GB589389A - Sheet delivery mechanism for printing presses and kindred machines - Google Patents

Abstract

589,389. Sheet-delivery apparatus. BELLUCRE, F. R. June 29, 1944, No. 12400. [Class 100 (i)] Sheet-delivery apparatus for printing or other machines designed to receive sheets at press speed and advance them slowly through a treatment zone, e.g., a heating or drying unit, prior to them being deposited on a pile table, includes a device carrying the sheets edgewise to another device carrying the sheets in a dependent position, the sheets being tramsferred from the first device to the second device by an independent gripper member moving in a path which at one point coincides with a part of the path of the first carrier, and subsequently intersects the path of the second carrier. As shown, the sheets S are taken from the machine by grippers on endless chains 8 moving at press speed and are transferred therefrom to grippers 15 on slow-speed endless chains 12 by suction grippers 25. Adjacent to the grippers 25 and as they approach a sprocket 9 the chains 8 are guided around a relatively sharp bend 11 with the path of the sheet-engaging parts of the grippers thereon moving on a radius less than the chain pitch line so as to slow down the sheets at that point, and facilitate their transfer to the grippers 25. The latter are given a "figure of eight" movement so that the sheet edge is pushed between the jaws 20, 21 of the grippers 15, one jaw 20 being fixed and the other 21 being spring- actuated. Two sets of grippers 25 taking alternate sheets may be provided. The sheets suspended from the grippers 15 pass slowly over a treating unit before being deposited on a pile 28, the grippers being opened by a cam 31 engaging a roller 23 on the jaw 21. The trailing ends of the sheets are supported by a cross-shaft 30 adjacent to the pile 28. When the pile 28 is full, delivery is switched. to a second pile 29 by rotation-of a handle on a shaft 37 manipulation of which renders the cams 31 inoperative and simultaneously moves gripper-opening cams 32 adjacent to the pile 29 to operative position. At the same time. the shaft 30 is rotated by gearing from the shaft 37 so that by means of cables 36 a curtain 33 wound on a roller 34 is pulled across the top of the pile 28. The chains 12 are guided by tracks 16 which can be adjusted as regards spacing by a hand-shaft 18 through rack-andpinion mechanism 19. If the sheets are relatively stiff, it is necessary to avoid abrupt bending thereof and for this purpose the members 44, Fig. 5, carrying the grippers 20, 21 are pivoted to the chains 12 and spring-held in normal position so that the sheets are suspended vertically. Adjacent to the pile 28, cams 48 engage rollers 47 on the members 44 to rotate them so that the sheets can pass to the pile without bending.